There really was a June 5, 1972 episode of The Dating Game that featured Michael Jackson as the featured bachelor when he was about 13 – 14 years old. He appears on the show, asks questions to the contestants, and even performs on the episode. It’s been uploaded on YouTube by fans and clearly identifies that airdate in its title.
What Happened on the Show
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Michael sang “Rockin’ Robin” on the show.
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He then participated in the format by posing questions from behind the screen to three young female contestants, just like the show’s usual format.
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After the Q&A, Michael chose the contestant known as Latanya (or Latony/Latonya) Simmons as the winner.
Who Was the Girl?
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The contestant Michael picked is widely reported as Latanya Simmons (sometimes spelled Latany).
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She was reportedly about 10 years old at the time, played basketball, and aspired to be a math teacher.
What Happened After the Show
Accounts from fan history pages and old interviews indicate:
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Latanya Simmons did go on a chaperoned date with Michael — including dinner at Sardi’s in New York City.
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This was the night before the Jackson 5’s big Madison Square Garden concert on June 30, 1972, and she attended that concert later.
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In later years, Latanya said their time together was very innocent and childlike — a few outings with a peck on the cheek — and that they were just kids then.
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Some fan-community reports from interviews suggest she later worked in hospital administration.
Context — A Lighthearted Clip, Not a Romance
It’s worth noting that even at the time, the appearance was meant as fun television entertainment — not a serious dating situation in the modern sense. Both Michael and the girl were children, and the show’s format for celebrity guests was always playful and staged.